No fewer that 18 pupils of St. James Primary School B, Owo-Ope, Osun State, have been hospitalized over food poisoning allegedly linked with the government’s free school feeding programme.
According to some of the parents, the affected pupils began vomiting and stooling after eating the meal on Monday, December 11.
According to them, the pupils developed complications after eating rice and egg prepared for them by food vendor agents of the O’ Meal programme on Monday.
One of the parents who simply identified herself as Iya Taiye, disclosed that her children returned home weak after vomiting and frequent stooling.
She alleged saboteurs in the school feeding programme, noting that he children are receiving treatment at home.
“I have invited doctor to treat my children. Other parent took their children to hospital but I have a doctor relation who helped me. My children are receiving treatment inside,” she said.
A top source in the school confirmed that over 50 pupils were affected one way or the other over the food poisoning.
He said 18 of the of pupils were hospitalised, adding that government has intervened in the matter.
Meanwhile, Osun State Government through the commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, has ordered full investigations into the reported cases of food poisoning.
He said the matter has been reported to the government by the Special Adviser on O-Meal, Grace Oluwaseyi Ayodele.
He said: “The governor directed stoppage of further food cooking at the affected school pending the outcome of the investigations. The affected cooks in the said schools alongside the Planning officer for the O-Meal programme have also been summoned to a meeting by Tuesday morning.
“The governor has directed enforcement of food standard and control as well as the auditing of the O-Meal structure to forestall future occurrence.”
“The government is settling the medical bills of the affected students as narrated by the Chairman of the Local Government Education Authority, Mr Nathaniel Ojetola. The LGEA Chairman who was at the forefront of the intervention efforts disclosed that a total number of 18 students were treated and discharged.
“The total student population of the school is two hundred while one hundred and three are within the population receiving food from the O-Meal Programme. A government delegation is also visiting families of the affected students.“
